Intermountain Laboratory Services MI1100-A1 (08/18)Salt Lake City, Utah Page 1 of 2

Microbiology Collection Media and Specimen TransportSpecimen Type

(by source or test)Preferred Collection Media

& Media StorageStorage

after CollectionComments

BD ESwab: Nylon flocked swab (regular, minitip, flexible minitip) with 1 mL modified liquid Amies

Room temperature Sustains viability of aerobic, anaerobic, and fastidious bacteria for up to 48 hrs. Anaerobic cultures must also have an aerobic culture ordered.** Not for rapid antigen screens such as Rapid Strep.

ANAEROBIC, AEROBIC & ROUTINE CULTURES

Blue top BBL CultureSwab Plus w/ Amies gel w/o charcoal

Room temperature Maintains organism for 24-48 hrs. Good for most bacteria.** Not for rapid antigen screens such as Rapid Strep.

BODY FLUIDS,WOUND ASPIRATES

Syringe specimen

Sterile container without preservative

Room temperature Transport to lab ASAP.Transport only after the needle has been removed.Transport with original Luer lock cap. (Contact laboratory to order extra caps.)

BD ESwab: Nylon flocked swab (regular, minitip, flexible minitip) with 1 mL modified liquid Amies

NASOPHARYNGEAL CULTURES

Green top BBL CultureSwab with liquid Stuart sponge

Room temperature For Bordetella pertussis, the preferred method is PCR.

RAPID RSV(Respiratory Syncytial Virus)

Nasal washing / nasopharyngeal aspirate

Flocked nasopharyngeal swab in M4/UTM (red lid w/ pink fluid)

Refrigerate

THROAT SWABS -RAPID STREP GROUP A WITH OR WITHOUT REFLEX TO CULTURE

Red top BBL CultureSwab with liquid Stuart sponge

Room temperature

Room temperature Submit 2 swabs (comes w/ 2): one for the rapid test, one for back-up culture if necessary.

THROAT SWABS - STREP CULTURE (NOT FOR RAPID STREP TEST)

BD ESwab: Nylon flocked swab (regular, minitip, flexible minitip) with 1 mL modified liquid Amies

Room temperature

PCR – N. gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia, herpes, or other viruses

M4/UTM viral transport (red lid w/ pink fluid)

Room temperature or refrigerate

Room temperature

Refrigeration is optional for PCR specimens.

DO NOT use for Mycoplasma / Ureaplasma cultures.

VIRAL CULTURES M4 or UTM viral transport

Refrigerate

Refrigerate Do not place CSF, body fluids or urine in M4/UTM. Use sterile container.

MYCOPLASMA/ UREAPLASMA CULTURES

M4 viral transport (blue lid with pink fluid)

RefrigerateSTERILE SPECIMENSputum & Tissue

Sterile containers

Anaerobic transport media

Room temperature

At lab within 4 hrs. if possible.Room temperature if received within 4 hrs.Refrigerate if over 4 hours.

Sputum and tissue specimens must be delivered to lab ASAP.

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Intermountain Laboratory Services MI1100-A1 (08/18)Salt Lake City, Utah Page 2 of 2

Specimen Type (by source or test)

Preferred Collection Media & Media Storage

Storage after Collection

Comments

PRENATAL STREP SCREEN

BD ESwab: Nylon flocked swab (regular, minitip, flexible minitip) with 1 mL modified liquid Amies

Room temperature Note if patient has penicillin llergy.

STOOL CULTURES

Not performed on formed stool.

Cary Blair (transport media)

Clean, screw-capped container for unpreserved specimens.

Transport media, room temperature. Unpreserved over 2 hours, place in transport media.

Good for 24-48 hrs.Specimen must not be contaminated with urine or toilet water, or be from a diaper.Submit fresh (unpreserved) specimens to lab preferably within 2 hours of collection.Stool culture for enteric pathogens includes campylobacter, shigella, and salmonella testing unless otherwise indicated.Enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) testing should be performed on bloody stools and must be ordered by a clinician.

OVA & PARASITEGIARDIA ANTIGEN TESTING

Total Fix

Clean container

Room temperature

Refrigerate

If no history of travel, immune status or risk factors is/are indicated, Giardia Antigen will be performed.

FECAL WBC, C. DIFFICILE or ROTAVIRUS

Not performed on formed stool.

Clean screw- capped container

Refrigerate up to 72 hrs.

Submit fresh (unpreserved, room temperature) specimens to lab, preferably within 2 hours of collection.

URINE CULTURE Gray top BD Urine Vacutainer/ Urine Preservative Formula

Sterile screw -capped container

Room temperature, 2 days.

Refrigerate up to 72 hrs.

Gray top not suitable for urinalysis.

Must be filled to the fill line.

Sterile screw -capped container may be used for routine urinalysis.

GENITAL WET PREPS Minimal sterile salineor Red top BBL CultureSwab with liquid Stuart sponge

Room temperature <4 hrs.

For trichomonas or yeast, transport to lab ASAP.

FUNGAL CULTURES Fluid or tissue in sterile container (preferred over swab)

BD ESwab: Nylon flocked swab (regular, minitip, flexible minitip) with 1 mL modified liquid Amies

Room Temperature or Refrigerate

Blood and CSF specimens have special requirements; call laboratory for information.

ACID FAST BACILLUS (AFB) CULTURES

Fluid or tissue in sterile container (preferred over swab)

BD ESwab: Nylon flocked swab (regular, minitip, flexible minitip) with 1 mL modified liquid Amies

Room Temperature or Refrigerate

Blood and CSF specimens have special requirements; call laboratory for information.

If you have any questions about specimen collection, storage or transport, please call the laboratory.

Printed on 10/23/2018 11:52 (MDT). Page 2 of 2